This isn’t a story I ever thought I’d be telling. I knew it was possible, of course, but I never imagined it would happen to us.
We weren’t going to post about it. When it happened the first time, we handled it privately, respectfully, and directly. But when it happened again, we realised that silence wouldn’t protect our work, and it definitely wouldn’t protect the work of other small local businesses.
So here’s what happened.
The First Copy: Our Baobab Hoop Charm
In 2023, we launched our Baobab Hoop Charm. This natural stone design is inspired by the colours and shapes of our surroundings. It was intentionally created to honour organic materials and slow jewellery practices.
Earlier this year, one of our customers spotted something that looked like an identical charm in Poetry stores. The proportions, the placement, the colour palette, everything matched.
We immediately reached out.
I spoke with Simone, a legal representative at Poetry. She acknowledged that the charm was in fact a copy of our original design. She told us it had been a mistake, that the decision was made by someone standing in for their buyer who was on maternity leave.
No excuses, just: “Mistakes happen.”
Simone assured us that the item would be removed from all stores and the online store, and that a situation like this would not happen again.
They followed through. We let it go.
The Second Time
3 months later, a client messaged us: “Anna, your charms are back in Poetry.” Along with the message came a photo. There they were.
Not one. Not two. Three charms. All unmistakably copied from our original designs:
We know that bees and gemstones are widely used in jewellery. We don’t believe we own these themes. But this wasn’t just a theme. This was a copy. The details were too close. The proportions, shapes, claw placement, and even the specific shades of green.
Put them side by side, there’s no ambiguity..
Why We’re Speaking Up
As a small jewellery brand, every design we release is the product of careful thought, hands-on prototyping, and genuine storytelling. Each piece carries the fingerprints of our team and the heart of our process.
It's disheartening to have those ideas lifted (not once but multiple times) by a big-name retail chain that claims to support local and independent makers. Unfortunately, this is not new.
This kind of copycat behaviour undermines everything small businesses work so hard to build. It chips away at trust. It makes it harder for original design to survive.
When this kind of thing goes unchecked, it chips away at creativity. It makes it harder for original work to survive. It sends a message that copying is easier, cheaper, and good enough.
But we know better.
What We’re Asking
We’re asking Poetry to take responsibility again.
Take the copies off shelves.
Put better systems in place.
Protect the makers you say you support.
And most importantly, respect the work.
What You Can Do
If this matters to you, there are a few things that help:
- Share this post
- Tag @PoetryStores and ask them to do better
- Keep supporting local brands that create with care and originality
And to You, Thank You
We’re so lucky to have a community that values story, intention, and integrity.
Our community is filled with people who care about where things come from, how they’re made, and who they impact. Thank you for being the kind of people who see the difference between an imitation and the real thing.
When you support small makers, you’re not just buying a piece of jewellery, you’re standing up for time, talent, and integrity. It may seem like a small act, but to us, it means everything.
With love,
Anna
